DUMC Library
PubMed (MEDLINE)
Quick Reference Card
http://www.mclibrary.duke.edu/pubmed

Basic Searching - Enter one or more words into the query box and press Enter or GO

• Search terms can be single words or phrases (Do NOT use quotations.)
• PubMed will automatically search for terms as both MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) and as words in title and/or abstract
• MeSH terms are automatically exploded to include narrower related terms
• Search terms are automatically combined using AND

Advanced Searching:

• Search each term separately
• Check DETAILS to verify proper MeSH terms searched
• Search sets are listed under HISTORY
• Combine sets with AND or OR in UPPER CASE

Additional options:

Truncation - Use the asterisk (*) to look for multiple endings of a word
Ex: Myocard* will retrieve myocardium, myocardial, myocarditis, etc.
Note: Truncation prevents automatic mapping and explosion of MeSH terms

MeSH Database - under PubMed Services - use to find proper MeSH subject headings

Limits - Publication Type, Age, Gender, Language, etc.
Only one option can be selected from a drop-down menu
To turn off limits - remove the checkmark from the box beside the Limits button

Details - Displays how PubMed translated your search statements; use to verify searched for correct MeSH terms and textwords

History - Displays the list of search sets; Use to combine search sets
Set numbers MUST be preceded by the pound (#) sign Exs: #3 AND #7

Clipboard - Stores selected citations for viewing, printing, or saving
Check the box beside a selected citation and click on the Send To [Clipboard] button

PubMed Services (left column):

MeSH Database - use to find proper MeSH subject headings

Single Citation Matcher - to verify or find a specific article
Enter information in one or more fields

• Journal - Full Title or MEDLINE Abbreviation [Ex. Lancet]
• Date - Year (yyyy) [Ex. 2000]
• Volume, Issue, or First Page - [Ex. 356 or 9247 or 2052]
• Author - Last Name, or Last Name and Initial(s) [Ex. Kober L]
  Authors' names are automatically truncated
• Title Words - Full Title, Partial Title, or Significant Word(s) [Ex. Effect dofetilide]

Clinical Queries (EBM filters) - research methodology filters designed to retrieve quality studies;
Select either: